TOKYO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of Japanese people gathered around the parliament building in Tokyo on Sunday to protest attempts of the government of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to revise the country's pacifist constitution and to call for the protection of Article 9.

About 36,000 people attended the rally, organizers said, the second protest to draw about 30,000 people near the National Diet Building against constitutional revision since April 8.

Protesters held placards reading "No to war," "Do not undermine Article 9" and "Takaichi step down," calling for the protection of Japan's pacifist constitution.

"The fact that so many people have gathered here to protest the Takaichi administration's push for constitutional revision shows that the Japanese people do not want war," a protester surnamed Hara told Xinhua. It was her fourth time attending such a rally.

Hara accused Takaichi, backed by her ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) supermajority in the lower house, of pressing ahead with constitutional amendment in defiance of public opposition, intending to turn Japan into a country "capable of waging war," which she said she strongly opposes.

"I hope (the Takaichi government) can listen to the voice of the people," she added.

Another protester, identified as Takahashi, said Japan had inflicted profound suffering across Asia during wartime and that its pacifist constitution was drafted in reflection on that history. She opposes any move to revise it.

"I have nephews and nieces, and I absolutely do not want them to be sent to war someday," said Izumi, a first-time participant. "I oppose war. Article 9 must be protected at all costs."

Another male protester said he feared war and was alarmed by the ruling LDP's push to revise Article 9. He expressed hope that Takaichi would step down and be replaced by leadership capable of advancing genuine democracy and that Japan would maintain friendly relations with China and countries around the world.

Japan's Constitution, which took effect in 1947, is often referred to as the pacifist constitution because its Article 9 renounces war as a sovereign right and prohibits Japan from possessing "war potential" such as military forces.

However, both Takaichi and right-wing forces in Japan have long sought to revise Article 9. At an LDP convention on April 12, Takaichi declared that "the time has come" to reform the Constitution, saying that "we would like to hold next year's convention with a proposal for a constitutional amendment in sight," signalling a renewed determination that has triggered widespread concern and criticism across Japanese society. ■